Book 2

New Neighbors

Chapter 6

As soon as Amy returned to her ship she was notified that Cmdr Thomas had a training drill in progress and that the alien ship was complaining about not being able to return their crew. Amy apologized and asked that they understand that system security was at stake and the drill was necessary, in fact she was issuing a similar alert drill for the ships also. And Amy did just that, she put all ships on alert and recalled all crew. She also ordered that none of the alien ships be allowed to depart, as part of the drill. Amy then called a senior staff meeting in her ready room. Amy and Sam had come up with a plan on the way back to the ship.

Once everyone was back aboard, especially Jake and his crew, Amy told everyone what she had learned from Turrini. Amy asked Jake to estimate the number of crew onboard the alien ship at the time he had left. Jake said that there were only about 10 crew members plus the officers. The plan was simple, she would invite the Admiral and the first officer over for a formal dinner. At which time they would be confronted with what was known, the hidden transmitters, the history of the name SuLak, and the fact that Amy had not asked for a replacement for Turrini just official documentation from the Protectorate. While this was going on, a security detail would take over the ship and hold it, and the crew, until Amy said different. Everyone agreed that the plan was simple and should work. Amy then called Turrini's ship and gave the invitation for the formal dinner that evening. The invitation was accepted.

Without being obvious, Sam had setup scanners to detect any weapons or transmitters on the visitors. Any weapons would be noted and that person would be watched very closely. Anyone having a transmitter would be identified and Amy made aware of their identity. The scanners found that each of the officers had a hidden weapon, and the first officer had several transmitters on his person. All this information was passed to Amy and her staff. The waiters for the meal were all security personnel and armed with concealed weapons. Each waiter was assigned a specific person to watch.

Amy greeted the  Admiral graciously and said it was an honor to have him there. After everyone was seated the meal was served and there was general conversation around the table throughout the meal. At the end of the meal Amy stood to offer a toast.

"Admiral SuLak, guests and friends, I offer a toast to our newest arrival to the Sol system. I want to apologize for the inconvenience of the drills, the planet drill should be over in an hour or two. I want to welcome you to our system and hope we can have a mutually satisfying relationship. I give you Admiral SuLak." Amy said.

The admiral stood and offered a similar toast to Amy and her crew. After he sat down, Amy asked him why Captain Turrini wasn't with them. The admiral replied that the captain was believed to be on the planet and could not get back to his ship. Amy just nodded at this explanation, then asked why the first officer had once again brought small hide-able transmitters onboard her ship? The admiral was surprised that this had been done and asked the first officer to explain. The first officer denied that he had any transmitters on his person other than his communicator. With that Amy handed the admiral the transmitters that had been found the last time and commented that the officer was not very good at hiding them.

"Well now that we know how the Protectorate works, I'm not so sure that we are interested in joining with you. Besides the transmitters from his last visit, now each of you come on my ship carrying concealed weapons. This does not encourage me to join either. Oh, by the way, any sudden movement will result in that person being shot." Amy said.

The first officer tried to draw a weapon, but Sam convinced him that would not be a good idea by chopping his neck and putting him out cold. Each of the others noted this and that each of the waiters had a weapon in their hands. The first officer was relieved of his weapons and the transmitters, then good old fashion handcuffs were applied. About that time a message came over the first officer's communicator that armed men had taken over the ship. The admiral was visibly upset by this announcement.

"Well Admiral SuLak is this way you recruit members for the protectorate? We have come across a few of your relatives, or at least their handiwork, in the past. The name SuLak has been associated with the destruction of ships and the disappearance of ships in this system. I do not think you represent the protectorate. I think you are trying to keep this system from joining your enemy. What do you have to say to that?" Amy asked calmly.

The admiral didn't answer he just tried to reach the back of his neck, but was prevented from doing so by the security officer behind him who pulled the admiral's hands together and applied cuffs. A Med-Tech came in when summoned and found the same implant they had seen before in both the first officer and the admiral, the rest didn't have one. Amy then had Turrini brought in. He had been escorted to the ship by Cmdr Thomas while dinner was in progress. A quick scan revealed no implant in Turrini. Each of the officers, except the admiral and the first officer, just looked at Turrini and hung their heads. Amy told Turrini what had happened and what had been found. Turrini's face got very red and he asked each of his officers why they had concealed weapons. Everyone of them said it was an order form the admiral, he had said that they were probably going to be disarmed on arrival and would have need of the secret weapons. Turrini, after hearing this, turned to Amy.

"Captain, I ask for mercy for my officers since they were following orders from what they thought was a superior officer. I will personally speak for each of them as these officers have been with me for several years and I have always trusted them." Turrini said sadly.

"Captain Turrini, I will ask your indulgence. Each of your officers will be administered a drug that prevents deception and then questioned. Of course you will be allowed to be present for this procedure. If any man fails this test, then he will be put in our brig. Any man who passes this test will be returned to you to do with as you see fit. Would you consider this fair? Of course this does not apply to your first officer or the admiral." Amy replied.

"That is more than fair. In fact if you will allow it, I will personally kill any man who fails. I could never trust such a man again and it would make me sick to know he lived." Turrini replied.

The two prisoners were taken to the brig and put on close watch. Each of the other officers were drugged and questioned, none failed. Turrini made a request of Amy, he wanted each of the crew tested in the same way. Amy agreed to this request. While the officers were being tested Amy received a report form the security detail onboard Turrini's ship. It seemed that the shuttle pilot had tried to escape but could not get the blast doors opened without power in the flight bay. The pilot was in custody and an implant had been found. No other implants were found. Amy relayed this information to Turrini.

It would take a couple of days to screen all of Turrini's crew on the ground, but each of them were in custody. It appeared that Cmdr Thomas' forces were very efficient in rounding all of them up and securing them. There were only five injuries in the crew members, they had gotten in a bar fight before the round up started and were being attended to in the base hospital. Once Turrini learned the names of the injured, he told Amy they always were a problem when they had shore leave. Then he laughed out loud at their misfortune.

It was three days later before all of the crew were screened and released. Turrini had been there for each and every procedure, with a hand weapon ready to fulfill his duty as he saw it. SuLak and the first officer were given the same procedure, but not much more information was gained. Turrini, Amy, and her senior staff had a long meeting after all the questioning was done. It was decided to put SuLak, his pilot, and Turrini's ex-first officer in the brig on the planet until contact with the real Protectorate could be made.

Turrini and his crew all swore to help protect the Sol system and the Alpha system, once it was settled. The plans for the expedition went forward, as did the repairs and upgrades to Turrini's ship. There was now two new members of Amy's senior staff, AL's android and Turrini.